Urban Politics in Early Modern Europe is an important survey of the complex relationships between urban politics and regional and national politics in Europe from 1500 to 1789. In an era when the national state was far less developed than today, crucial decisions about economic, religious and social policy were often settled at the municipal level. Cities were frequently the scenes of sudden tensions or bitter conflicts between ordinary citizens and the urban elite, and the threat of civic unrest often underlay the political dynamics of early modern cities.
With vivid descriptions of events in cities in central Europe, England, France, Italy and Spain, this book outlines the forms of political interaction in the early modern city. Urban Politics in Early Modern Europe takes a fascinating comparative approach to the nature of conflict and conflict resolution in early modern communities throughout Europe.
Biography
Christopher R. Friedrichs is Professor of History at the University of British Columbia. His previous books include The Early Modern City, 1450–1750 (Longman, 1995).
'Clear, stimulating and full of good things despite its short length: I particularly liked the balance between generalisations and specific examples. It deserves to become a standard work.' - Prof David M. Palliser
